OSCE Sub-regional Conference on role of information and communication technologies in regional and international security starts in Tashkent

Tashkent, 22 September 2017 – A two-day Sub-regional Conference on the role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in regional and international security began today in Tashkent.  

“Cyber-attacks are a quintessentially 21st century threat; global in nature, virtually untraceable, eminently deniable, with perpetrators that can be state actors or not, many or few, acting directly or indirectly, and stationed anywhere. In short, a potentially destabilizing factor to interstate relations”, said Rasa Ostrauskaite, OSCE Co-ordinator of Activities to Address Transnational Threats, during the opening remarks of the conference. 

Over the next two days, some 60 officials and experts from six OSCE participating States will discuss practical measures to enhance cyber stability between States. This will include discussing effective national interagency co-operation and preparedness as well as establishing dedicated communication lines on the policy level between States in order to avoid possible misunderstandings. “Enhancing regional and international co-operation in the area of cyber/ICT security is essential for ensuring the security of states and societies in general”, said Bakhromjon Olmatov, Deputy ICT Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan.  

The sub-regional conference is co-organized by the OSCE Transnational Threats Department and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.  It is part of a project which aims to enhance effective implementation and awareness of the OSCE cyber/ICT security confidence building measures (CBMs), taking into account sub-regional differences in cyber/ICT security policy and capacities.